We are social animals.
And while each of us is an individual, we long for relationships with others. Being part of a community brings many benefits: social connection and engagement; a sense of support and belonging; better physical, mental, and financial health.
Of course, it’s important to find the right balance between individual and community interests. Individuals who avoid community are worse off; communities that disrespect individuality weaken as those individuals move to the margins or leave. Healthy communities encourage stronger individuals; strong individuals contribute to even healthier communities.
Take a moment to consider all of your communities. You are part of a family, with parents, siblings, children, and more distant relatives. You live in a place–whether in a house on a tree-lined street, an apartment building in a busy city, or on a rural farm–that’s your neighborhood. You probably go to school or work each day, perhaps occasionally to a church, or mosque, or synagogue. These are all natural communities. Other examples abound: hobby-focused clubs, volunteer groups, alumni networks, coworking spaces, professional organizations.
One of our primary values here at Swampum is to support individuals and the communities they value. We believe that if you have something you don’t want anymore, you might like to offer it to those in your family, or neighborhood, or office before throwing it away. And that if you want to lend or borrow something, you are more likely to do that with people close to you rather than complete strangers. So we are building a platform that allows our users to share tangible things with whomever they choose.
Our hope is that you’ll see the benefit of sharing tangible things with those you care for, extending your connections with others beyond the links and pics and reels of virtual communities. And that you’ll join our Swampum community as we build something special. Just as you #sharesomethingreal with your family (and friends, and neighbors, and coworkers …), you’ll find they have real things to share with you, too.
